Is Brian Urlacher's run with the Bears over after 13 seasons? / Don McPeak, USA TODAY Sports

by Nate Davis, USA TODAY Sports

by Nate Davis, USA TODAY Sports

After 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears, Brian Urlacher's days in the Windy City are apparently over.

The team announced Wednesday evening that it had not been able to reach an accord for the 2013 season with its eight-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker, whose contract expired this month, and was now preparing to go in a different direction.

"We were unable to reach an agreement with Brian and both sides have decided to move forward," Bears GM Phil Emery said in a statement.

"Brian has been an elite player in our league for over a decade. He showed great leadership and helped develop a winning culture over his time with the Bears. We appreciate all he has given our team, on and off the field. Brian will always be welcome as a member of the Bears."

Urlacher, 34, clearly seemed to have lost a step last season as he battled a balky left knee. He initially injured the joint in the final game of the 2011 regular season and had surgery last offseason. A hamstring injury then cut Urlacher's 2012 campaign short. Discounting the 2009 season, when a dislocated wrist landed Urlacher on injured reserve after Week 1, his 68 tackles last year were a career-low.

The Bears are clearly a franchise in transition.

Longtime coach Lovie Smith, whose expertise was on the defensive side of the ball, was fired after last season when his 10-6 squad failed to qualify for the playoffs. Offensively oriented Marc Trestman was brought in by Emery as Smith's replacement.

Urlacher, fellow linebacker Nick Roach and end Israel Idonije are among the longtime defenders left out in the cold. Former defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli was offered the opportunity to remain on Trestman's staff but opted to join former boss Monte Kiffin with the Dallas Cowboys.

Chicago entered free agency with only $7 million in cap room before Emery released a handful of players. He committed his resources to defensive tackle Henry Melton ($8.45 million franchise tag) before signing left tackle Jermon Bushrod and tight end Martellus Bennett, whose contracts are collectively worth $56 million over nine seasons.

A first-round pick out of New Mexico in 2000, Urlacher won defensive rookie of the year honors that season and seamlessly built upon a legacy left by Bears Hall of Fame middle linebackers Bill George, Dick Butkus and Mike Singletary. Only George failed to finish his career in Chicago.

Urlacher may very well end up in Canton himself one day. The four-time first-team all-pro was the NFL's defensive MVP in 2005. A year later, he helped lead the Bears to a berth in Super Bowl XLI, the only time Chicago has played in the game since the famed '85 Bears won Super Bowl XX.

"Over the last 13 years Brian Urlacher has been an outstanding player, teammate, leader and face of our franchise," team chairman George McCaskey said.

"As Bears fans, we have been lucky to have such a humble superstar represent our city. He embodies the same characteristics displayed by the Bears all-time greats who played before him and he will eventually join many of them in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. We thank Brian for all he has given our team and our city. He will always be a part of the Bears family. We wish him the very best."